The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die (Bad Boy - September 13, 1994)

Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G., or Biggie Smalls, after his family won the rights to the name in a cock fight, is a now deceased emcee who originated from Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, New York. Biggie came from a very humble background of Jamaican immigrants trying to live the American Dream. Biggie lived in a very dangerous time and place, and his home situation wasn't better either. Smalls hated school but his mother bought junk food in order to keep him in school (seriously), but even despite his family's best efforts, by his late teen years he was slanging yay. Wallace looked like another statistic in the US ghettos.

Enter Puff Daddy.

In the early 90s in order to pass boredom in school Biggie began writing poems, lyrics, etc and started practicing his rapping. This was only on occasion though. However, good friend Puff Daddy realized Biggie had talent. By 1992 Smalls was practicing freestyles on the streets, and soon got a mainstream record deal. That record? The album above. It sold millions instantly, and shot Biggie into stardom among the many recognizable faces of hip hop by 1995. The rest is for another day, since this is only one part of the story. Now, with that out of the way, let's get on with the soup of the day.

1. INTRO - I don't care about any rap album intro, no matter the artist. It's still a pointless intro that's either some halfassed vent or more cliches. Sigh

2. THINGS DONE CHANGED - I'll be honest, I've never really liked this song so much. It's not bad, mind you, but I've heard better. Biggie manages to hold himself on a track that is pretty similar to Nas's NY State of Mind, but the beat isn't as memorable. Actually, I feel it's lacking. It sounds melodramatic, as if it sounds like it can't climax. A shame, I really liked Biggie's lyrics on here.

3. GIMMIE THE LOOT - A pretty classic track. The beat, courtesy of Easy Mo Bee, is pretty simple. It could've been better, but at least it's better than the previous track. Anyway, Biggie's storytelling of a contraband deal gone horribly wrong (sort of like Biggie's answer to Deep Cover) is just amazing. Biggie manages to smoothly get through the story while imitating a number of alter egos, but doesn't sound out of character. It goes to show how well Biggie was at his art.

4. MACHINE GUN FUNK - A pretty basic braggadocio song, of Biggie's boast and bullshit, as well as his love for the machine gun funk. This song is pretty good, but that's as much as I can say. It's pretty damn solid.

5. WARNING - I love this track. Like, I really love it. Smalls goes back to his usual strength of storytelling, this time rapping about being watched and paranoid without justified reason. Easy Mo Bee's beat is very atmospheric; it's quite slow and not over bearing, just slow smooth and moving like the drench of paranoia of this track. If only Biggie were around to rap about the National Security Agency.

6. READY TO DIE - Another paranoia track, but it's more of a catharsis if anything. Regardless, Biggie does a very good job of describing the daily troubles of a young black male in a ghetto. Seriously, this track is still pretty damn good to this day. Even if Easy Mo Bee's beat isn't as dramatic as I'd have preferred, it's still genius throughout.

7. ONE MORE CHANCE (ORIGINAL) - Where Biggie describes his various orgies and sex experiences. I'm not a huge fan of this one, even if Biggie's lyrics are quite good, especially for a topic most sound cheesy doing. Good job unleashing your inner Too $hort, Big!

8. FUCK ME - Fun fact - Lil Kim and Biggie actually had sex, and this was recorded. Otherwise, pointless.

9. THE WHAT (FT. METHOD MAN) - The only guest verse on Ready to Die (with the exception of a track that may or may not was supposed to be on here). It's a braggadocio, but a kickass one. Biggie holds his own against Wu member Method Man, and tear a pretty dope beat from Easy Mo Bee. Seriously, imagine if Biggie collaborated with the Wu. That could've fed children and shit.

10. JUICY - You know this one, needs no introduction. This probably plays on every 90s block everywhere. Interestingly enough, the original version, mixed by Pete Rock, was never sent; instead the remix (which is the album version) by Trackmasters was sent to publishing instead. The mistake was too little too late, and was released as a single, where the true original mix by Pete Rock was released as a B-side. The only real difference was a more boom bap drum set to the beat, but it's still ear pleasure, so I suggest you go find it.

11. EVERYDAY STRUGGLE - I like this song; Biggie's song is very quick and catchy. The beat, this time courtesy of the Bluez Brothers, knocks. Biggie's lyrics of everyday crime and struggle are entertaining. For song material that is usually depressing as hell, this song manages not to take itself too seriously, which is just awesome.

12. ME & MY BITCH - Romance tale. Not a fan of this one, sorry.

13. BIG POPPA - A blatant jack of the Isley Brother's In Between the Sheets. It's pretty much a remake, and a radio hit, and a G-funk copy, but I'm not a big fan of this one, it hasn't aged well. The Isley Brothers actually sued Bad Boy for unauthorized sampling, in 2004. 10 years after this song had made its mark widespread.

14. RESPECT - A boom bap copy beat which just sounds... strange. It's not the worst beat but man, it could've been a lot better, especially on top of an awful hook. Again, Biggie deserved a lot better than this.

15. FRIEND OF MINE - This beat was made in 1994? I have to admit this sounds quite ahead of its time. Hell, the beat could be remixed into a pulsating EDM beat, and no one would notice. Biggie's performance isn't too special, so this isn't something you'll be listening to every night.

16. UNBELIEVABLE - Now this is more like it. Seriously, I fucking love this track. DJ Premier plus Biggie is like almond butter on sourdough, its just amazing. The beat reminds me of laundromats, I have to admit. Nonetheless, this track is pretty damn awesome. Boom it in your headset, I tell you!

17. SUICIDAL THOUGHTS - Biggie's own catharsis on contemplating suicide. It's still a pretty dramatic track, if not creepy, especially given that Smalls died not too long after. It still sounds very strong, and is one of the best songs dealing with this subject. Biggie, you were the man for this one.

Hold your horses, we're not done yet.

B-SIDES TO TRACK DOWN.

18. WHO SHOT YA - Aka the song where Biggie supposedly reveals he organized the 2Pac shooting in 1994 even though in context doesn't sound so at all. All I know is that this track rocks. Nashiem Myrick's beat sounds so dark and menacing, like shit is about to go down. Biggie's lyrics don't fail, making this a must find.

19. ONE MORE CHANCE (REMIX) (FT. FAITH EVANS) - AKA the version played to death on radio. It's pretty incredible how Biggie could write about sex so well. He's better than that awful 50 Shades of Grey movie. Overall, if you need to listen to something while getting your club on, this isn't a bad song to turn to.

20. JUST PLAYING (DREAMS) - Re-released in 2004 in the remaster. It's a short and sweet one; Biggie pretty much fantasizes about exotic women he'll have sex with, again his inner Too $hort being seen here. It's not a bad track; it's like a 90s hip hop answer to all those terrible crush on a girl 2000s rock songs you probably played to death in high school.

21. RUNNIN' (FROM THA POLICE) (FEAT. 2PAC, DRAMACYDAL, BUJU BANTON & STRETCH) - I'm not sure if there is definitive proof this song was going to be on Ready to Die, but it was shelved from the original Thug Life album and never made it's way on 2Pac's Me Against the World, only being released on the 1995 compilation One Million Strong. Regardless, it's significant for being a living 2Pac-The Notorious B.I.G. collaboration, a pairing which had a whole lot of potential. It's bittersweet; Biggie and 2Pac both take the cake while Dramacydal hold their own. Easy Mo Bee's beat is dark, tragic, but kick ass.

And with that, we're done with Ready to Die. Huh.

FINAL WORD: Ready to Die is a classic. I'll admit, it's definitely not perfect; the production isn't 100% consistent throughout, and obviously some songs aren't great. But overall, Biggie delivered a very strong fucking debut. It's timeless, and it's definitely still worth listening today. You have to wonder the things Biggie might have accomplished. Then again, let's not kid ourselves. It probably would've involved the same bullshit trends that were inevitable. But Biggie's loss is still very much felt in 2016.

BUY OR BURN? - Buy, buy, buy. Simple. Don't make this difficult.

BEST TRACKS - "Unbelievable", "Juicy", "Gimmie the Loot", "Warning", "Ready to Die"

Twista - Resurrection (Unofficial Release, October 18, 1994)

In 1992 Twista was holding the world record of the fastest rapper, shortly after that, he released his first album Runnin' Off at da Mouth under the name of Tung Twista. Two years later and couple years before he appeared on Do Or Die's debut album and got really famous, he released his second album Resurrection. Unfortunately, it was never officially released, probably because a fellow Chicago rapper Common's album, which has the same title, was released around the same time. Some records were mostly sold in Chicago streets and in a few record shops.

1. DA RESURRECTION - This track starts with random creepy sounds, however they fit for the song. The beat is dope as fuck and scratching is actually used pretty amazingly, is it just me or does it sound like it's ahead of its time? You can tell Twista changed his style from the first album. His lyrics are raw and his flow is slower. It's actually a good intro for the album.

2. SUICIDE (REMIX) - Kinda unusual to have a remix before the original one on an album, I guess. But anyways, after Naughty by Nature said "Tung twist your ass back to Chicago", Twista had to respond with this diss track. No hate for Naughty by Nature but Twista pretty much destroys them. The beat isn't that great. Although I usually like the synthesizer, but for this track it doesn't fit that well.

3. ANOMOSITY KILLS - Yes, it is spelled like that. Twista has done what probably almost every 90s rapper has done, rapping about killing other rappers and how he is superior to them. The hook is kinda creepy with all that "whispering". The beat is dark and it has some weird horn sound, but it ain't a bad one.

4. STREET PARANOIA - Not a bad track. Twista rapping about struggle and life in the streets. The sad dark beat fits well for the atmosphere. Nuff said.

5. RE-ACT WITH A MIC - A track with Dres from Black Sheep. Pretty catchy hook. Dres and Twista are rapping about how they kill "punks" with their lyrics. I think the beat ain't anything special though, kinda boring. The song is alright.

6. SCAT LIKE DAT - So, Twista is doing scat singing, of course it ain't so easy to tell what he is saying. However, it's a good change from all this dark stuff. Jazzy beat with dope ass piano (or I assume it's piano). Really dope and catchy song! Twista returned back to his fast flow with this one.

7. RETURN - This track has been pressed on some single (Discogs claims it's a professional CD pressing) along with "Suicide". Apparently this one is some radio mix. On the single it's named "Return of da Rat-ta-tat". However, the beat is dope, it has that "night time in a ghetto" feeling. Why they sometimes get some Jamaican guy (or they say stuff in Jamaican accent) in a song about killing someone with a gun though? Like BDP's "9mm Goes Bang".

8. DIRT ON THE DOWN LOW - Amazing! Again, there's some jazzy horns, which sound dark, but the beat is dope, and the kinda silent synthesizer makes it fuckin' great. Twista's raw flow fits for this track pretty damn well.

9. SHADOW BOXIN - The title reminds me of Wu-Tang, actually the beat does too, I can hear Gravediggaz influence here. The bassline is amazing though. This is an okay track.

10. ALL ABOUT THE PAPES - Kinda chill jazzy beat, but it's a fuckin' good one. Nowhere has been mentioned who's the guy featuring. Anyways, a nice track about making that money. Twista's verses are dope.

11. ONE SHOT, ONE KILL - My favorite track. It features Speedknot Mobstaz and B-Hype. I ain't really familiar with Chicago scene, so I have no idea who these guys are. However the beat is dope as fuck, sounds really grimey and dark. I think this subject is already used pretty much on the album, but some rappers recycle their topics a lot. I always find this line funny: "Well, it's that miracle spiritual lyrical murderer".

12. SUICIDE - The original version. It has much better beat than in the remix. Also the most famous song off the album. It has been pressed on a single among the remix.

FINAL WORD: People say this is really underrated album, I definitely agree. Although he chaged his style, it  was still really different, if you compare to Adrenaline Rush, although he got more close to it with this album. He has more east coast kind of flow than that typical Chicago chopper flow in this album. However, really great album, one of the best by Twista.

BUY OR BURN? - If you ever have a chance, definitely buy this! It's a rare classic. However, if you ever see someone selling this, it's most likely just a shitty bootleg.

BEST TRACKS: "One Shot, One Kill", "All About The Papes", "Dirt On The Down Low","Scat Like Dat".